Platform for the food and beverage industry
The challenge, however, is to find a product that simultaneously disinfects sufficiently and yet leaves as little residue as possible, especially on surfaces where there is direct contact with food. Alcodes GF from Ecolab combines all of these properties in one easy-to-use product.
Surface disinfection is high on the agenda of companies producing food and beverages. Not least because HACCP regulations specifically call for disinfection of all surfaces that may come into contact with food. "Since March last year, however, we have seen a sharp increase in demand for surface disinfectants. Because of corona, food companies are now looking beyond the production area alone to disinfect surfaces. Think for example of contact surfaces such as door handles or sanitary areas." Speaking is Arne Daneels, Marketing Associate Benelux for Ecolab. The product Ecolab is putting forward for surface disinfection is the new Alcodes GF. "An ethanol-based formula with an alcohol content of only 60%. Yet it passes all tests with flying colors to provide effective protection against bacteria, yeasts, fungi and viruses. This also makes it suitable for alcohol-resistant surfaces."
What is striking is that companies today are primarily looking for disinfectants that are free of glutaraldehyde. "A substance that could cause skin irritation, headaches and/or shortness of breath and is therefore better avoided. What makes Alcodes GF such an ideal solution is that Ecolab's R&D team managed to develop it without glutaraldehyde, QAC, MEK, Bitrex, perfume and dyes. In short, all possible substances that could cause reactions. Moreover, the disinfectant Alcodes GF is particularly easy to use. Just apply it and it will ensure thorough saturation of the surface, just because it is mainly a mixture of alcohol and water. No need for rinsing, it dries quickly and leaves virtually no active ingredients on the treated surfaces. The residue level really is exceptionally low," Daneels adds.
In France, where Alcodes GF was launched earlier, this yielded tremendous results in practice. Today, the first tests are also running with Belgian customers from the food and beverage industry. "That is also the way we as Ecolab have always wanted to distinguish ourselves. We supply more than chemicals, there is a whole team ready behind each of our products, which can provide support at all levels. Application knowledge makes all the difference in cleaning. Not only to achieve the most effective cleaning result, but also to optimize time, chemicals, energy and water consumption ... We do that for new customers, but also for existing customers we continue to think along with them how we can improve cleaning. An approach that customers appreciate, because they want to be reassured that the products do what they are supposed to do to guarantee hygiene in their company," concludes Daneels.
Choice of Alcodes GF delivers Irish abattoir more uptime
A slaughterhouse in Ireland already made the choice of Alcodes GF. They had a problem with possible microbial growth because the lines are not in continuous operation. There can be up to three days between the end of production and the next startup. Ecolab therefore recommended always using a disinfectant at startup after long periods. However, the slaughterhouse could not afford to have to wait a long time for the surfaces to dry again, which is the case with classic disinfectants. After testing, Alcodes GF proved to be the solution of choice. Efficient cleaning was guaranteed and no time was lost in drying.
